KUALA LUMPUR – Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin claimed the government treats both Malaysian men and women equally in the issue of conferment of citizenship to children born overseas.
In a written parliamentary reply, Hamzah said this is in line with Part III of the federal constitution on the acquisition of citizenship.
The minister added that similar treatment is also granted on provisions related to the issue of marriage registration, child legitimacy, and immigration rules.
“The Home Ministry also takes immediate action on all citizenship applications it receives,” he said in his reply dated yesterday.
“Every application is duly processed to ensure compliance to the set conditions under Citizenship Rules 1964 of the constitution, as well as other relevant provisions.”
Hamzah said that the ministry always strives to ease every application it receives and that it will review the issue and come up with a new policy to further facilitate Malaysian mothers with foreign spouses who give birth to their child overseas.
His reply, however, appears to contradict the problem faced by Malaysian mothers today.
In the past, many local women have complained about facing difficulties in conferring citizenship to their overseas-born children.
This prompted six mothers to file an originating summons at the high court in December last year to grant women equal rights as Malaysian men pertaining to this issue.
On September 9, the high court ruled in favour of the mothers. However, four days later, Putrajaya filed an appeal on the decision, courting criticism from various quarters, including several government lawmakers. – The Vibes, September 29, 2021
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